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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
04:44
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Emphysematous cystitis with clinical subcutaneous emphysema.
Ahmed-Ramadan Sadek1, Helen Blake, Anand Mehta
1Care of the Elderly Medicine Department Mayday University Hospital, 530 London Road Croydon, CR8 2YL, UK. a.sadek@soton.ac.uk.
International Journal of Emergency Medicine
|June 15, 2011
Summary
Emphysematous cystitis (EC), a bladder infection causing gas, can rarely lead to subcutaneous emphysema. Early diagnosis via clinical suspicion and CT scans is crucial for managing this serious complication.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Infectious Diseases
- Radiology
Background:
- Emphysematous cystitis (EC) involves gas in the bladder wall, often from Escherichia coli in diabetic patients.
- Subcutaneous emphysema is a rare but serious complication of EC with a poor prognosis.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are vital but challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of subcutaneous emphysema secondary to emphysematous cystitis.
- To highlight the importance of clinical suspicion and computed tomography (CT) in diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Clinical diagnosis of subcutaneous emphysema.
- Confirmation of diagnosis using computed tomography (CT).
Main Results:
- A case of subcutaneous emphysema caused by emphysematous cystitis was successfully diagnosed.
- Computed tomography confirmed the clinical suspicion.
Conclusions:
- Subcutaneous emphysema due to EC requires high clinical suspicion for timely diagnosis.
- CT imaging is essential for confirming the diagnosis and guiding treatment.
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